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Ruthless People: Ruthless - Arches Lane Theatre

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What is it about the Madoff’s that writers can’t resist writing about? Sure, it may have been the largest Ponzi scheme to collapse (so far), but there isn’t much more to explore. Or is there? In Ruthless by writer Roger Steinmann, Ruth Madoff is imagined as a wronged, gun-toting woman anchored in the past while trying to move on with her life. It’s not entirely successful but a fascinating look at life and wig choices, It’s currently playing at the theatre now known as the Arches Lane Theatre in Battersea. Ruth Madoff, played by Emily Swain, is here wearing a wig. I thought it was an odd look until I reviewed how closely it matched the photo of her interview in  The New York Times .  Typically, it’s the sort of wig you might see worn by Ladies on a night out in central London, not someone who once had over $80m in assets. With Bernie in Jail and both her sons now dead - one by suicide and one due to cancer, she is setting a table for the men who have left her. And ordering p...

Theatre: All New People


All New People, written and starring Zach Braff is a play that takes place over 90 or so minutes in the dead of winter at a beach house on Long Beach Island New Jersey. Zach's character Charlie is staying at his friends beach house for a few days as he is having a bit of crisis at this point in his life. He is about to end it all, when a real estate agent walks in... Then follows a fireman, and then a high-class hooker his best friend arranged to cheer him up with.

The stage is set for a bizarre and off-beat set of stories and revelations from this collection of four unlikely people. There is a detailed discussion about scabies and debates about the merits of various intoxicating substances. Projections help with the back stories of the characters, but it works best when it is just some off-beat random discussions about matters of trivial importance. Or are they? Whatever the case, the action moves briskly and the laughs are fairly constant.


Along with the Scrubs and Garden State star Zach Braff is a pretty hot cast. Eve Myles (known from Torchwood) plays the mildly eccentric real estate agent, Paul Hilton is the druggy fireman and Susannah Fielding is the glamorous escort with a heart of gold and tits to die for.

Maybe there are some Torchwood fans out there, but judging by the fans that are now gathering outside the theatre every night perhaps Mr Braff has got a potential hit on his hands. Assuming they are all paying to get a ticket and not just staying at home watching repeat episodes of Scrubs on E4...

Worth a look, if you can grab a ticket... I was impressed with the box seats in the circle as they were good value, close to the action and come complete with a hooks for your coats. The restricted view was not such a big deal given most of the action takes place dead centre.

First impressions are as follows...
Preview Boo: All New People (mp3)

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